The air around Nigerian politics turned electric this weekend after former President Olusegun Obasanjo finally opened up on the long-standing “third term” controversy that has trailed his name for nearly two decades. In a defiant outburst, Obasanjo declared that if he truly wanted a third term in power, nothing and no one in Nigeria could have stopped him.
Speaking during an event in Abuja, Obasanjo dismissed years of rumours that he tried to manipulate the Constitution to extend his stay in Aso Rock beyond 2007. With his trademark bluntness, the ex-president said: “If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it, and there is no Nigerian alive or dead who can prove that I ever asked for it.”
The claims immediately reopened old wounds in the country’s political history. Back in 2006, whispers of a constitutional amendment to extend presidential tenure dominated headlines and fueled bitter debates in the National Assembly. The proposal was ultimately crushed, but many Nigerians believed at the time that Obasanjo’s loyalists were behind the push. Now, almost twenty years later, Obasanjo is daring his critics to show any evidence against him.
In his remarks, he even drew a comparison to his famous debt relief deal during his presidency. According to him, if he could pull off negotiations that wiped out billions of Nigeria’s foreign debt, then pushing for a third term would have been child’s play — had he ever wanted it. His words have set off a storm of reactions, with some Nigerians praising his boldness, while others accuse him of rewriting history.
Political watchers say Obasanjo’s fresh comments could reignite scrutiny over the influence of ex-presidents in Nigeria’s democracy. While he insists he never sought to elongate his rule, the shadow of the “third term” debate has refused to fade from his legacy. One thing is certain: Obasanjo’s latest outburst has ensured that the controversy will not be buried anytime soon.
